Tire for wheeled vehicles.



PATENTED JAN. 9. 1906. f F. H. STERLING.

' TIRE FOR- WHEELBD VEHICLES.

APPLIUATION FILED DEG-6.1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906.

STERLING. TIRE'FOR WHEELED VEHICLES.

Arrmouilou nun mm. s, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"I'll!" UNITED STATES" PATEN OFFICE.

FRANK HENRY STERLING, or LONDON, ENGLAND.

TIRE FOR WHEELED VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed mambo e, 1904. Serial No. 235.755.

, Toall whom may concern:

- .skilled in the art to and useful 111 make and use the same.

Thisinvention relates to improvements in tires forwheeled vehicles, the object being to rovide a resilient andefiicient spring or c0'mined s ring and pneumatic tire particularly adapte for use in connection with heavy vehicles.

This invention consists, essentially, in mounting upon the rim or felly two or more 'rows of-spiral springs, running around the outer circumference of the rim or-felly,-and in connecting the transverse thus formed together by means of bridgepieces, which in turn are flexibly connected together circumferentially aroundi the tire, so

as to form a flexible suspension rim or tread,

' while, the springs may have rubber cores,

entially connected together, sist of two or more rows arranged at the sides.

with restrain g linksor-members passing therethrough, and likewise be coated upon their outer surfaces with rubber, or be pro-.,

vided with rubber sleeves.

The tire may consist of circumferential rows of springs transversely'connected by bridge-pieces, which in turn are circumferor it may con-v of the rims or felly so as to leave any annular space for containing the inflatable air-chamer. Y

In order that this invention may be more fully understood, it will nowbe described-with reference to the accompanying drawings, in

Figure l is a cross section of a tire constructed according to thisinvention. Fig. 2

is a partial side elevationand longitudinal:

section'of such a tire; Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a slightly-modified form of the tire;

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation thereof. Fig. bridge-pieces, shoe ing a method of flexibly connecting them to view of Fig. 5. Fig.

gether. Fig. 6 is aside 7 is a detailed view of an alternative method of flexibly connecting the bridgepieces. Fig. 8 is adetailedview hereinafter referred to. Fig.- 9 is a cross-section of a tire formed wholly of springs.

which it appertains to rows of springs Fig. 10 is'a detailed view of a modified form of spring-casing hereinafter referred to. Figs. 11 and 12 are diagrammatic views showing the means which may be employed forpreventing circumferential or combined circumferential and lateral movement of the springs, as hereinafter described.

In carrying this invention into practical effect and according to one form of construction the tire comprises two circumferential rows of springs a, mounted upon two endless bands or Lrings b, which may be formed with circular flangesor nipples a passing over the lower extremities of the springs.

The bands I) are mounted upon a rim or felly d and are slid into position from one side, a

an serving as an annular distance-piece,

, while they are secured in position by side fl es);

bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the rim or felly cl.

transversely secured together. by a number of bridge-pieces 9 connecting each opposed,

air of springs, the said bridge-pieces being ormed with circular flanges or nipples g or band eIb einglarranged between them The circumferential rows of springs a are embracing .the upper extremities of the springs,-andthese bridge-pieces are flexibly connected together, as shown at Figs. 5 and 6, by connecting the plates %by small links or clips h, or the plates 9 may e simply connected together after the. manner of the ordinary hinge, as shown at Fig. 7. Each spring is inclosed in a rubber sleeve which may be eifected,

11, while through the center of the spring a rubber core 21, containing a collapsible restraining-chain, passes, the upper extremity of each chain being connected with one of the bridge-pieces and its lower extremity with the band or ring I), and this may be effected by passing the lower extremity through the band and then passing a pin .or ring through the end link, or the end of the chain may be passed through the washer k, such asshown in Fi 8, and the extremities of such a numbero restraining-chains may then be secured by passing a wire, such as is, through the end links, the wire lying in slots formed in the faces of the washers, Fig. 8.

The restraining medium need not necessarily take the; form of a chain, but may be a wire or otherijsuitable member arranged so as to be' capable of sufliciently collapsing IIC ' 1 The central annular s ace between the two 5 a number ofcircumferential rows of springs springs of each transverse row only being conpensedwith and replaced by a band q,-Fig. 10, of sufficient depth and formed either as a complete ring or circle or in sections, which is provided with the requisite number of holes or perforations to contain the springs, and it is obvious that a tire in this form might be constructed with any number of circumferential rows of springs within practical limits.

restraining chains, wires, or the like would preferably normally retain the springs slightly compressed and prevent their further expan- In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the tire is furnished with a tread 1, formed of rubber, rubber and canvas, or other material suitable for the purpose, which is formed with side strips Z extending down the sides of the ro ti're'an secured under the side flanges f, while to prevent the tread from creeping staples such as m, may be passed therethrough at suitable intervals and riveted "to the bridge-pieces g.

method of preventing circumferential movement'of the s rings, and to this end a hinged link or togg e arm r' is pivoted to one of the side bands band at its upper extremity to one of the bridge pieces g, a corresponding link or to gle arm running from the same or another bridge-piece in the opposite direction and being secured to the band I) on the l opposite side. These links or tog le-arms maybe secured outside the tire when t eycan- 8 5 placed for protecting the said tube, and 'not be conveniently arranged within the same, Where the springs are not provided with outer or where an air-tube is employed they may be sleeves this band may extend down the'sides arran ed between the side springs and the of thesprings, so as to partially inclose and air-tn e, the latter being suitably protected, 25 protect the air-tube. s. i or where there is an annular space between The form shown at Fi s. 3 and 4 differs but the circumferential rows of rings not occuslightly from that alrea y described-that is ied by an air-tube. they may be arranged circumferential rows 0 sprin sis employe to contain an air-tube M, whi e between the top of the air-tube and the inner surfacesof the bridge-pieces a strip or band n of rubber, 2o canvas, felt, or other suitable material is to say, the inner edges of the bands b aswithin the space.

sume ,a different form, as shown, while the 1 Fig. 12 shows a slightlymodified arrange- 0 annular distance-piece e is correspondingly nie' t wherein a chain isemployed and ar- 5 shaped, and the tread takes the forms of ranged in an annular space between the cirblocks 0 of metal or other suitable'material, cumferential rows of springs, and in this ar which are riveted to the bridge-pieces, and rangement the chains is secured to the hand these blocks are not necessarily of the form I) at one side, is carried up in a slantin' direc- 5' shown, but may be of any suitable shape and tion and secured to approximatel t e cenform and'of any suitable formincross-section. ter of one of the bridge-pieces, an then car- Instead of a sin l'e circumferential row of ried down in the opposlte directionand ses rings being emp oyed at each side of the cured to the band at the opposite side, or air-chamber, two or more such rows may be chains or the like may be employed and ar- 4o employed within practical limits; but in all ranged in the manner hereinbefore described cases the transverse rows of springs would be wit reference to Fig. 11. connected to ether b bridge-pieces, which The rows of springs may be arran ed parin turn woul be flexi ly connected together allel to each other or they may be inc ined to circumferentially around the tire, and where or from the felly or sli htly curved, as required, while instead 0 circular flanges or no ni ples being formed on or secured to the si e bands I) the latter may contain a series of holes or perforations through which separately-formed niptples may be assed to engage the ends oft e springs, an the same arrangement applies to the connecting bridgepieces, while where the outer rubber sleeves are dispensed with, which are normally drawn over and grip the circular flanges or nip les, the latter may have their extremities 12o slig tly turned or passed in an inward direction, sofas to securely grip the springs, or the nipples may be screw-threaded and the ends of the springs adapted to screw therein.

Where double clips, such as h, Fig; 5, are'emnected with the bridge-pieces and PI'OVldBd .ployedfor connecting the bridgelates g, with restraining-chains 1' or t e like, the inthey may be formed integrally wit a comtermediate springs being filled with solid mon base or unitinglate,such as h, which cores of rubber p, and in a tire of this form forms a cover for'protecting the joint. 1

65 the separate outer rubber sleeves may be dis- Having now described my invention, what are employed restraining chains or the like need not be employed'in connection with the whole of them. For instance ,-they may pass through the end springs only of each so transverse row, the interme iate springs-be- (ing filled with the solid cores of rubber, or where a tire is constructed entirely of a numberof circumferential rows the end springs of each transverse row only may besecured to 5 5 the bridge-pieces and some or all of the intermediate springs abut against the bridgepiece. Fi 9 shows atire constructed of four circnm erential rows of springs b, the outer Fig. 11 diagrammatically illustrates a 7 5 pieces.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. The combination, w1th a wheel-rim, of

spiral springs secured around the said rim,

, 2. The combmatlon, with a wheel-rim, of

rows of spiral'springs secured around the said rim, bridge-pieces bearing directly upon and secured to the outer end portions of the said springs, and links pivotally connecting the adjacent edges of the said bridge-pieces.

3'. The combination, with a wheel-rim, of rows of spiralsprings secured around the said rim, a'series of articulated bridge-pieces connected to the outer end portions of the said springs, and a series'of exible connections arranged radially between the said rim and bridgeieces.)

4; T e combination, with a wheel-rim, of rows of spiral springs secured around the said rim,-a series of articulated bridge-pieces connected to the outer end portions of the said springs, and cores ranged inside the said springs.

5. The combination, with a wheel-rim, of rows of spiral springs secured around the said rim, a series of articulated bridge-pieces connected to ,the outer end portions'of the said springs, tubular cores of elastic material of. elastic material ar-' said IIIII, retaining-plates secured to the sides of the said run, endless rings secured between the said ring and plates, rows of spiral springs having their inner end portions secured to the said endless rings, and a series of articulated bridgepieces connected to the outer end portions of the said springs.

7. The combination, with a wheel-rim, of-

rows of spiral springs secured around the edges of the'said rim, a series of articulated bridgeieces connected to the outer end portions 0 the said springs, and an inflatable air-tube arranged at the middle art of the said rim between the said rows-o springs.

' GODFREY B. SHEPHERD.

, aring secured to the middle portion of the 8. The combination, with a wheel-rim, of

preventing the 

